Multiuse home station

ABSTRACT

A multiuse home station includes a vacuum cleaner docking station, a vacuum cleaner charging station, and a room air cleaner unit, wherein the room air unit uses a portion of the vacuum cleaner docking station.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/157,608, which was filed on Jan. 25, 2021, and which is allowed, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to multiuse home stations for use withat least two appliances, and particularly to a multiuse home station foruse with at least one cleaning appliance.

INTRODUCTION

The following is not an admission that anything discussed below is partof the prior art or part of the common general knowledge of a personskilled in the art.

Many different cleaning appliances have been developed for use incleaning homes and other spaces. Often, each appliance is designed for aparticular use or type of cleaning. Accordingly, many homeownersaccumulate a plurality of appliances for a plurality of cleaning needs.For example, a homeowner may have a robot vacuum for daily floorcleaning, a steam mop for wet floor cleaning, a stick vacuum forabove-floor and quick cleaning, and a room air cleaner for continuousair cleaning.

SUMMARY

The following introduction is provided to introduce the reader to themore detailed discussion to follow. The introduction is not intended tolimit or define any claimed or as yet unclaimed invention. One or moreinventions may reside in any combination or sub-combination of theelements or process steps disclosed in any part of this documentincluding its claims and figures.

A multiuse home station may combine into a single station the functionsof two or more appliances. In one particular embodiment, the multiusehome station incorporates the functions of one or more other householdappliances into the docking station for a robot vacuum. Alternately, orin addition, the multiuse home station may provide a base for use withone or more other household appliances.

As the number of cleaning appliances multiplies, so does the total costof these products and the total space needed to store these appliances.Further, many of these appliances have components that could be a commoncomponent that has more than one function.

For example, if a user has a robot vacuum, then floor space is alreadyrequired for the docking station. The robot station could utilize theexisting floor plate to provide additional functionality and therebyavoid the need to provide floor space or tabletop space for otherappliances.

Accordingly, since a docking station for a robot vacuum may incorporatean air moving member and an air treatment member to receive dust andother material collected by a robot vacuum, the air moving member andthe air treatment member could be part of a room air cleaner that isbuilt into the docking station. In such an embodiment, the multiuse homestation comprises components that provide part or all of the function ofa first appliance (e.g., the docking station for a robot vacuum) andpart or all of the function of a second appliance (e.g., a room aircleaner) that is different from the first appliance. Accordingly, themultiuse home station may use some or all of the components that providethe function for the first appliance and the multiuse home station mayuse some or all of those components to provide a unit that functions asthe second appliance (e.g., a room air cleaner).

Similarly, as a docking station for a robot vacuum may be plugged into ahousehold electrical outlet, the docking station typically has acharging port for a robot vacuum cleaner. Therefore, the docking stationcould provide a charging station for other appliances (e.g., a handvacuum cleaner, a wireless charging pad for a smartphone or a tablet, acharging station for a flashlight, etc.) and/or have a power outlet forother appliances, which could be 110/240V outlets, 12V outlets and/orUSB outlets.

It will be appreciated that the air treatment member of a dockingstation for a robot vacuum has a dirt collection region and this regionmay be used for additional purposes so as to function as a shared dirtreceiving region. The shared dirt receiving region may be useable by atleast two appliances. Accordingly, a user may be able to dispose of dirtfrom more than one appliance by emptying or removing only the one shareddirt receiving region. For example, the shared dirt receiving region maybe used to receive dirt from a canister vacuum cleaner, an uprightvacuum cleaner or a handheld vacuum cleaner in addition to, e.g., arobot vacuum. Alternately, or in addition, it may be used as a garbagecan for a room.

Alternately, or in addition, the air moving member and the air treatmentmember of a docking station for a robot vacuum may be used to providecomponents of a vacuum cleaner. For example, a rigid extension wandand/or a flexible hose may be part of, or connectable to, a multiusehose station to provide above floor functionality. Alternately or inaddition, the air moving member and the air treatment member of adocking station for a robot vacuum may be provided in a removablehousing that functions as a portable vacuum cleaner. Accordingly, themultiuse home station may include at least one station associated with arobot vacuum and also provide a vacuum cleaner unit that is removablymounted as part of the docking station and/or is useable in situ in thedocking stations with, e.g., a rigid extension wand and a flexible hose.Thus, the multiuse home station may provide improvements (e.g., inconvenience or cost) without a corresponding loss in functionality.

The multiuse home station may include a disinfection unit. Thedisinfection unit may be configured to store and/or generate and use adisinfectant agent (e.g., an alcohol solution, ozone, ultravioletradiation, peroxide, an oxide, quaternary ammonium, or ions from an airionizer). The multiuse home station may itself be adapted to use(disperse) the disinfection agent to disinfect the air in a room and/ora surface (e.g., a surface of an appliance or a surface in a room suchas a floor or wall) and/or provide the disinfectant agent to anappliance (such as a robot vacuum) which may itself use the disinfectionagent to disinfect the air in a room and/or a surface. The disinfectionagent may be applied during a low-traffic time period.

The multiuse home station may be configured to redistribute heat in aroom. For example, the multiuse home station may selectively draw airfrom an upper end of a room or from a lower end of the room and/orexhaust air to the upper end of the room or to the lower end of theroom. An advantage of this aspect is that the multiuse home station maydraw relatively hotter air from the upper portion of the room when theroom temperature is generally cooler than desired (e.g., in winter) andfrom the lower portion of the room when the room temperature isgenerally higher than desired (e.g., in summer).

The multiuse home station may be integrated into a living space. Themultiuse home station may be shaped to fit underneath common furnitureitems (e.g., in a location that is at least partially out of sight whilestill providing direct access from the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus (robot vacuum) docking station to the floor). The multiusehome station may be incorporated into common furniture items (e.g., themultiuse home station may form a bookshelf or a stand for a televisionscreen). An advantage of this aspect is that the multiuse home stationmay be positioned in a convenient location (e.g., a location readilyaccessed by the user and/or in a position where an autonomous applianceis able to directly access the necessary surfaces) without appearing outof place or taking up additional space.

The multiuse home station may be a modular station. The multiuse homestation may be configured to allow one or more (e.g., a plurality) ofunits or stations to be removed, added and/or replaced over the lifetimeof the multiuse home station. Accordingly, the multiuse home station maybe continuously used even as one or more units or stations break down orbecome outdated.

In accordance with one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided amultiuse home station comprising:

-   -   (a) an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station,        the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station        comprises an air flow passage from an autonomous surface        cleaning apparatus docking station port to a clean air outlet        with an air treatment and air movement unit provided in the air        flow passage, the air treatment and air movement unit comprises        a suction motor and fan assembly and an air treatment member;    -   (b) an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus charging station;        and,    -   (c) a room air cleaner unit, wherein the room air unit uses a        portion of the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking        station.

In any embodiment, the air flow passage may comprise a first upstreamportion extending between the autonomous surface cleaning apparatusdocking station port and the air treatment and air movement unit and adownstream portion extending between the air treatment and air movementunit and the clean air outlet port, and the room air cleaner unit mayutilize the air treatment and air movement unit.

In any embodiment, the room air cleaner unit may comprise a second airflow passage extending from a room air inlet towards the air treatmentand air movement unit.

In any embodiment, the air treatment member may comprise a dirtreceiving region and the multiuse home station may further comprise anopenable lid wherein, when the lid is opened, the dirt receiving regionis opened whereby the dirt receiving region is useable as a room garbagecan.

In any embodiment, the multiuse home station may further comprise a handvac unit that comprises a hand vac docking station.

In any embodiment, the hand vac docking station may comprise a secondair flow passage extending from a hand vac inlet and extending towardsthe air treatment and air movement unit whereby the hand vac unitutilizes the air treatment and air movement unit.

In any embodiment, the hand vac docking station may comprise a hand vaccharging station.

In any embodiment, the multiuse home station may further comprise anabove floor cleaning unit that comprises a rigid cleaning wand and aflexible hose wherein the air flow passage comprises a first upstreamportion extending between the autonomous surface cleaning apparatusdocking station port and the air treatment and air movement unit and adownstream portion extending between the air treatment and air movementunit and the clean air outlet port, and a second air flow passageextending from a above floor inlet towards the air treatment and airmovement unit wherein the above floor cleaning unit utilizes the airtreatment and air movement unit.

In any embodiment, the multiuse home station may further comprise asecondary charging station.

In any embodiment, the secondary charging station may comprise arecharging station for at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, aflashlight and a hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the secondary charging station may comprise a USBport.

In any embodiment, the multiuse home station may further comprise one ormore of a Wi-Fi repeater, a room light and a surge protected electricaloutlet.

In any embodiment, the multiuse home station may further comprise anautonomous surface cleaning apparatus wherein the autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus comprises a disinfection unit or an air cleaner unit.

In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, there is provideda multiuse home station comprising:

-   -   (a) an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station;    -   (b) an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus charging station;        and,    -   (c) a secondary charging station.

In any embodiment, the secondary charging station may comprise arecharging station for at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, aflashlight and a hand vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the secondary charging station may comprise awireless charging pad.

In accordance with another aspect of this disclosure, there is provideda multiuse home station comprising:

-   -   (a) an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station,        the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station        comprises an air flow passage from an autonomous surface        cleaning apparatus docking station port to a clean air outlet        with an air treatment and air movement unit provided in the air        flow passage, the air treatment and air movement unit comprises        a suction motor and fan assembly and an air treatment member;    -   (b) an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus charging station;        and,    -   (c) a secondary vacuum unit operable independently of an        autonomous surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the secondary        vacuum unit uses a portion of the autonomous surface cleaning        apparatus docking station.

In any embodiment, the secondary vacuum unit may comprise a cordlessportable vacuum cleaner.

In any embodiment, the air flow passage may comprise a first upstreamportion extending between the autonomous surface cleaning apparatusdocking station port and the air treatment and air movement unit and adownstream portion extending between the air treatment and air movementunit and the clean air outlet port, and the secondary vacuum unit maycomprise a flexible hose and wand assembly upstream of the air treatmentand air movement unit.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that an apparatusor method disclosed herein may embody any one or more of the featurescontained herein and that the features may be used in any particularcombination or sub-combination.

These and other aspects and features of various embodiments will bedescribed in greater detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the described embodiments and to show moreclearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made,by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a multiuse homestation;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a multiusehome station;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a multiusehome station;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a multiusehome station;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a multiusehome station;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a multiusehome station;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a multiusehome station;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a multiusehome station;

FIG. 9A is a front view of an alternate embodiment of a multiuse homestation;

FIG. 9B is a side view of the multiuse home station of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of a multiuse homestation; and,

FIG. 11 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of a multiuse homestation.

The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples ofarticles, methods, and apparatuses of the teaching of the presentspecification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taughtin any way.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Various apparatuses, methods and compositions are described below toprovide an example of an embodiment of each claimed invention. Noembodiment described below limits any claimed invention and any claimedinvention may cover apparatuses and methods that differ from thosedescribed below. The claimed inventions are not limited to apparatuses,methods and compositions having all of the features of any oneapparatus, method or composition described below or to features commonto multiple or all of the apparatuses, methods or compositions describedbelow. It is possible that an apparatus, method, or compositiondescribed below is not an embodiment of any claimed invention. Anyinvention disclosed in an apparatus, method or composition describedbelow that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter ofanother protective instrument, for example, a continuing patentapplication, and the applicant(s), inventor(s) and/or owner(s) do notintend to abandon, disclaim, or dedicate to the public any suchinvention by its disclosure in this document.

The terms “an embodiment,” “embodiment,” “embodiments,” “theembodiment,” “the embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” “someembodiments,” and “one embodiment” mean “one or more (but not all)embodiments of the present invention(s),” unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise. Alisting of items does not imply that any or all of the items aremutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a,”“an” and “the” mean “one or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise.

As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be“coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, or “fastened” where the parts arejoined or operate together either directly or indirectly (i.e., throughone or more intermediate parts), so long as a link occurs. As usedherein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be “directlycoupled”, “directly connected”, “directly attached”, or “directlyfastened” where the parts are connected in physical contact with eachother. None of the terms “coupled”, “connected”, “attached”, and“fastened” distinguish the manner in which two or more parts are joinedtogether.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity ofillustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may berepeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in orderto provide a thorough understanding of the example embodiments describedherein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in theart that the example embodiments described herein may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as notto obscure the example embodiments described herein. Also, thedescription is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the exampleembodiments described herein.

As used herein, the wording “and/or” is intended to represent aninclusive—or. That is, “X and/or Y” is intended to mean X or Y or both,for example. As a further example, “X, Y, and/or Z” is intended to meanX or Y or Z or any combination thereof.

General Description of a Multiuse Home Station

As exemplified in FIG. 1 , a multiuse home station 100 has a mainhousing 102 having a front end 104, a rear end 106, a top end 108, and abottom end 110. The main housing 102 is depicted as having a rectangularcross section in FIG. 1 , however the main housing 102 may be of anyshape (e.g., cubic, cylindrical, or irregular).

The multiuse home station 100 combines into a single station a dockingstation and/or charging station for at least one household applianceand/or one or more components that by themselves, or in combination withone or more other components that are removably connectable to themultiuse home station 100, produce a unit that fulfills the function ofa household appliance.

As used herein, a docking station refers to a portion of the multiusehome station 100 at which an appliance (or a subassembly that, togetherwith one or more of the components of the multiuse home station 100,provide the function of a household appliance) may be removablyconnected to transfer material (e.g., one or more of dirt, air, liquid,etc.) from the appliance to the multiuse home station 100. For example,the docking station may be a docking station for an autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus.

As used herein, a charging station refers to a portion of the multiusehome station 100 which provides an interface to charge one or morehousehold appliances). For example, the charging station may be acharging station for a handheld surface cleaning apparatus, anautonomous surface cleaning apparatus, a flashlight, a smart phone, atablet, or the like.

As used herein, a unit refers to one or more components of the multiusehome station 100 which by itself or in combination with one or morecomponents of the multiuse home station 100 or that are removablyconnectable to the multiuse home station 100, provides the function of ahousehold appliance. For example, a unit may be a room light provided aspart of the multiuse home station 100. Alternately, or in addition, theair treatment member and the air movement member of a docking stationfor an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus may be operable to alsofunction as a room air cleaner and thereby provide a room air cleanerunit that is part of the multiuse home station 100. Alternately, or inaddition, the air treatment member and the air movement member of adocking station for an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus may beoperable in combination with a retractable hose (which may be stored inthe multiuse home station 100, or removably connectable to a dockingstation, to function as a central surface cleaning apparatus and therebyprovide a central surface cleaning apparatus unit.

Accordingly, for example, the multiuse home station 100 may incorporatea first station (e.g., a docking station or charging station for anautonomous surface cleaning apparatus) and/or a first unit (e.g., aretractable hose and air moving unit for a central surface cleaningapparatus) with a second unit (e.g., a room air cleaner unit) and/or asecond station (e.g., a charging station for a flashlight and/or amobile device).

Combining at least one unit or station with at least one unit or stationwith a second unit or station in the single multiuse home station 100may reduce the total space used. It may also, or alternatively, allowthe appliances to share the use of one or more components of themultiuse home station 100. Combining at least one unit or station withat least one second unit or station in the single multiuse home station100 may facilitate ease of use (e.g., by essentially having twoappliances in the same location so the user does not forget where theyare stored).

Optionally, the multiuse home station 100 may include at least one unitor station associated with a cleaning appliance (e.g. an autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus, a stick vacuum cleaner, a central vacuumcleaner, a hand vacuum cleaner or a steam mop). An advantage ofincorporating a unit or station of a cleaning appliance is that manycleaning appliances require a station of some sort, and the station isoften placed in an easy-access location in a home. For example, adocking station for an autonomous surface cleaning apparatus is placedin the living space of a home (i.e. not stored in a closet or cupboardor other hidden location) so that the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus may be emptied and recharged. Integrating a second unit orstation with a robot docking station may save space and may enablecomponents of the robot docking station to provide some or all of thefunctions of another household appliance. Further using components of acleaning station such as a docking station for an autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus to provide some or all of the function of anotherhousehold appliance (e.g., a room air cleaner) may allow for shared useof one or more features of the multiuse home station 100 (e.g., asuction fan), as discussed further elsewhere herein.

Many cleaning appliances also require the use of features that could beused with other appliances, such as electrical power. For example, anautonomous surface cleaning apparatus may require a charging station atwhich an on-board power supply of the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus can be recharged (e.g., from a household current available atthe charging station or from a power storage device of the chargingstation). Accordingly, a multiuse home station 100 that has a cleaningappliance station may be used to operate and/or charge other appliances.

In the simple exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 , the multiuse home station100 includes at least one station for each of at least two differentappliances. The exemplary multiuse home station 100 of FIG. 1 includes afirst docking station 112 for a first appliance 114 (in this case, anautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 having an on board airtreatment member 117 and an on board air moving unit 119) and a seconddocking station 118 for a second appliance 120 (in this case aflashlight 122). As exemplified, a station may include a cradle forholding a docked appliance (e.g., the flashlight 122) and/or a dockingstation port through which a dirt receiving area in the appliance may bejoined to the multiuse home station 100 such that the multiuse homestation 100 may evacuate the dirt receiving area.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 , the first docking station 112includes a first cradle 124 for receiving the first appliance 114. Inthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 , the first cradle 124 is configuredto releasably connect the first appliance in fluid flow communicationwith the multiuse home station). In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 ,the first cradle 124 is a retractable cradle that may be retracted intothe floor 126 of the first docking station 112 to allow the autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus 116 to move in and out, and extended up fromthe floor 126 of the first docking station 112 (as depicted in FIG. 1 )to hold the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 when theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 is at rest. It will beappreciated that the first cradle 124 may be any interface known in therobotic vacuum cleaner arts for enabling an autonomous surface cleaningapparatus with a robot docking station. The second docking station 118includes a second cradle 130 for receiving and optionally holding thesecond appliance 120. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 , the secondcradle 130 is a shaped pocket (e.g., a pocket in a wall 132 of the mainhousing 102) to securely hold the second appliance 120. Combining twostations into the multiuse home station 100 may reduce the total spaceused to store the two associated appliances and/or facilitate ease ofuse (e.g., by having the two appliances in the same location). It willbe appreciated that the second docking station may provide an interfacefor charging the flashlight 122, in which case the second dockingstation would be a charging station. It will also be appreciated that ifthe flashlight 122 were a hand vacuum cleaner, then the second dockingstation 118 could connect the hand vacuum cleaner in fluid flowcommunication with the air treatment member and suction motor associatedwith the first docking station 112.

The multiuse home station 100 may include at least one unit or stationassociated with a first or primary cleaning appliance and at least oneunit or station associated with a second cleaning appliance differentfrom the first (i.e., at least two cleaning appliances). An advantage ofincluding a unit or station for each of two different cleaningappliances is that many cleaning appliances make use of the same orsimilar features and can share the use of a feature. For example, manycleaning appliances make use of an air moving member and/or an airtreatment member. Utilizing these components, e.g., as a docking stationto empty two different cleaning appliances, may allow for shared use ofone or more components of the multiuse home station 100, as discussedfurther elsewhere herein. It will be appreciated that each of the firstand second cleaning appliances may be a vacuum cleaning unit and maymake use of a shared air moving member (concurrent and/or sequentialuse), as discussed further elsewhere herein.

The units or stations of the multiuse home station 100 may be arrangedin any configuration relative to one another. As in the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 1 , the units or stations may be vertically stacked,which may facilitate reducing the footprint of the multiuse home station100 in a room.

The main housing 102 may optionally be customizable. For example, themain housing 102 may be magnetic such that a user may apply magnets todecorate the main housing 102. The man housing may include one or morepanels or shells which can be replaced, such that a user may choose thecolor or outer appearance of the main housing 102.

As discussed subsequently, a powered multiuse home station 100 may alsobe able to integrate one or more of a great variety of features,appliances, and/or powered apparatus. For example, a powered multiusehome station 100 may include one or more Wi-Fi repeaters, audio videoentertainment centers, speakers, processors running virtual assistants(e.g., Siri™), screens, projectors, lighted picture frames, carbonmonoxide detectors, smoke detectors, baby cameras, room lights (i.e.light fixtures for illuminating a room), security system motiondetectors, and/or power output units 140 (e.g., an electrical outlet,such as a surge-protected electrical outlet).

Multiuse Home Station with on Board Power

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 may havean on board energy source and may therefore function as anuninterruptible power supply This aspect may be used by itself or incombination with one or more of the other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this design is that the multiuse home station 100 mayoptionally be situated at a location at which it does not have to beplugged into a household electrical outlet at all times. Further, incase of a power failure, the multiuse home station 100 may house, e.g.,a flash light, which itself may have an on board power supply that ismaintained in a charged state by the multiuse home station 100.

As exemplified in FIG. 2 , the multiuse home station 100 may be poweredusing household current. Accordingly, the multiuse home station 100 mayinclude a power cord 136. The power cord 136 may be provided at anylocation on the multiuse home station 100, such as at the top end 108(e.g., to allow a user to easily reach the power cord without stooping;as illustrated in FIG. 1 ) or the bottom end 110 (e.g., to allow thepower cord to be more easily joined to a household electrical outletthat is located near a lower end of a household wall). An advantage ofusing household current is that the multiuse home station 100 may have acontinuous power supply without needing to be recharged.

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 mayalternately or in addition be powered by one or more on-board energystorage members 138 (e.g. one or more rechargeable or replaceablebatteries, supper-capacitors, fuel cells, or hydrogen combustion enginesor turbines). An advantage of the on-board energy storage member is thatthe multiuse home station 100 may be able to provide power even whenand/or where a household current is unavailable (e.g., during a poweroutage or in a location where no household outlet is located).

As exemplified in FIG. 2 , the multiuse home station 100 includes boththe power cord 136 and the on-board energy storage member 138 (in thiscase, a rechargeable battery). An advantage of the multiuse home station100 powered by household current and including at least one on-boardenergy storage device 138 is that the multiuse home station 100 may usehousehold current while that is available and may use current from anon-board energy storage device 138 when household current is unable. Insome examples, the multiuse home station 100 may include and/or functionas an uninterruptable power supply (UPS).

Multiple Charging Stations

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 includesat least a first charging station 146 (also referred to as a firstrecharging station or primary recharging station) for use with the firstappliance 114 and a second charging station 148 (also referred to as asecond recharging station or secondary recharging station) for use witha second appliance 120. This aspect may be used by itself or incombination with one or more of the other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that both the primary and secondarycharging stations 146, 148 may make use of the power available throughthe multiuse home station 100. As exemplified in FIG. 2 , the primarycharging station 146 and the secondary charging station 148 may each becoupled to the power cord 136 and/or on-board energy storage member(s)138 of the multiuse home station 100 to receive power therefrom.

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 may beconfigured to provide power to two or more appliances. For example, themultiuse home station 100 may have two or more charging stations. Eachcharging station may have electrical contacts that are electricallycouplable to mating electrical contacts on an appliance the is removablydockable to the multiuse home station 100 (e.g., a charging station foran autonomous surface cleaning apparatus as is known in the art), anelectrical outlet for receiving a power cord, USB cord or the like or awireless charging pad. Optionally, the multiuse home station 100 mayhave two or more charging stations which use electrical contacts, two ormore electrical outlets or to or more wireless charging pads.

Accordingly, the multiuse home station 100 may provide continuous powerto one or more appliances that are tethered to the multiuse home station100 by a power cord. Alternately, or in addition, the multiuse homestation 100 may provide power to an appliance while the appliance iselectrically coupled, e.g., docked, to a charging station). Accordingly,a user having two or more appliances may only need to concern themselveswith ensuring that the multiuse home station 100 is powered (i.e.,plugged in to a household electrical outlet and/or that an on-boardenergy storage member(s) is charged, and/or a fuel tank(s) filled withfuel). For example, the user may need only to concern themselves withensuring that the multiuse home station 100 is powered, knowing that thetwo or more appliances associated with the units or stations of themultiuse home station 100 will also receive power (e.g., by way of acharging station for each).

The multiuse home station 100 may be operable to convert power fromalternating current to direct currant and/or vice versa. For example,one appliance that may be powered by the multiuse home station 100 mayneed direct current, while another appliance powered by the multiusehome station 100 may need alternating current.

The powered multiuse home station 100 may include one or more chargingstations 142, each including at least one coupling 144 through which toprovide electrical power (e.g., to an appliance) from the power cord 136and/or on-board energy storage member(s) 138. As exemplified, chargingstations 142 have electrical coupling members that engage matingelectrical coupling members provided on an appliance that is docked atthe multiuse home station 100. Alternately, or in addition, a chargingstation may have an electrical outlet (e.g., a power output unit 140)which may removably receive a power cord from an appliance (e.g., a110V/240V power cord, a 12V power cord, a USB power cord or the like.Alternately, or in addition, a charging station may have a wirelesscharging pad for, e.g., a tablet, smart phone, flashlight, or the like.

Accordingly, the first charging station 146 may include a first chargingcoupling 150 (e.g., electrical contacts, a USB port or a wirelesscharging pad) configured to be joined to the first appliance 114 (e.g.,the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 as exemplified in FIG. 2 )when the first appliance is hooked up to the first charging station 150(e.g., the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 is docked to themultiuse home station 100). The second station 148 may include a secondcharging coupling 152 configured to be joined to the second appliance120 (e.g., a smartphone 154, in the illustrated example of FIG. 2 ) whenthe second appliance 120 is hooked up to the second charging station 148(e.g., second charging coupling 152 may be a Lightning connector, a miniUSB power cord or the like or optionally the second station 148 may be awireless charging pad).

An Autonomous Surface Cleaning Apparatus

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 includesat least one unit or station associated with an autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus. The multiuse home station 100 may include a chargingstation and/or a docking station for the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus. Optionally, the docking station includes a charging station.This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with one or more ofthe other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that a docking station for an autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus 116 typically includes an air treatmentmember and a suction motor that is used to evacuate dirt from theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 when it is docked andtherefore these components may be used as part of unit that performs afunction of a household appliance, such as a room air cleaner or airpurifier.

Additionally, or alternatively, docking station for an autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus 116 is generally placed on the floor of aroom with easy access to the surface to be cleaned (e.g., in a corner ofa room or against a wall), which may also be a convenient location for aunit or station for use with another appliance (e.g., a screen of atelevision).

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the multiuse home station 100includes two stations (the charging station 146 and the docking station112) associated with the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116. Inthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the docking station 112 and thecharging station 146 are combined into a combination station 156, suchthat the charging port 150 is operable to be electrically coupled to theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 when the autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus 116 is positioned in the cradle 124.

As exemplified in FIG. 3 , the multiuse home station 100 also includes aunit or station of and/or for use with another appliance. In theillustrated example of FIG. 3 , the other appliance is a room aircleaner unit 160, described further elsewhere herein. In other examples,the multiuse home station 100 may also or alternatively include a unitor station associated with a different appliance, such as a unit orstation associated with a central vacuum cleaner 162 (FIG. 4 ), a handvacuum cleaner 166 (FIG. 5 ), and a stick vacuum cleaner 168 (FIG. 6 ).

Two Surface Cleaning Appliances

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 has twostations, each of which is adapted to interface with a surface cleaningapparatus. Optionally, the two surface cleaning apparatus are differenttypes of surface cleaning apparatus for performing different cleaningtasks. Optionally, the first surface cleaning apparatus 114 isconfigured for cleaning a floor and the second surface cleaningapparatus 120 is configured for above floor cleaning. The multiuse homestation 100 may include an above floor inlet for receiving dirt from theabove floor cleaning appliance. This aspect may be used by itself or incombination with one or more of the other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that many surface cleaning appliances aredesigned for a particular type of cleaning. Often, a user will have atleast two cleaning appliances, and the cleaning appliances may be meantfor different types of tasks. For example, one cleaning appliance may bemeant for cleaning floors and another meant for above floor cleaning, orone cleaning appliance for basic daily cleaning and another for morethorough but less frequent cleaning, or one cleaning appliance forautomated cleaning and another for manual cleaning.

A multiuse home station 100 having at least one unit or stationassociated with a first surface cleaning apparatus and at least oneother unit or station associated with another surface cleaning apparatusis exemplified in FIGS. 4 to 6 . FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the multiusehome station 100 having at least one station for use with the autonomoussurface cleaning appliance 116, and at least one station for use withanother type of surface cleaning apparatus (a central vacuum cleaner 162in FIG. 4 , a hand vacuum cleaner 166 in FIG. 5 , and a stick vacuumcleaner 168 in FIG. 6 ). Accordingly a docking station for an autonomoussurface cleaning appliance 116 may have a first docking station for theautonomous surface cleaning appliance 116 (which is designed to onlyclean floors) and a second docking or charging station for a second typeof surface cleaning apparatus which can clean above the floor.

While each of FIGS. 4 to 6 show the multiuse home station 100 with atleast one station for use with the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus116, it is to be understood that in some examples the multiuse homestation 100 does not include a unit or station for use with theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 (i.e., neither the first northe second station is associated with an autonomous surface cleaningapparatus and accordingly, e.g., the first appliance 114 may be thecentral vacuum unit 162 and the second appliance 120 may be the handvacuum cleaner 166).

Optionally, as exemplified in FIG. 4 , at least one of the firstappliance 114 and the second appliance 120 is an above floor cleaningapparatus 170 (e.g., the central vacuum unit 162 of FIG. 4 or the handvacuum cleaner 166 of FIG. 5 ). An above floor cleaning apparatus isconfigured (e.g., sized and shaped) to be raised by, optionally, asingle hand of a user to easily be applied to above-floor surfaces, andis used with an above floor inlet 219 of the multiuse home station 100.The above floor inlet 219 is provided to receive the dirt from the abovefloor cleaning unit 170 into the body 102 of the multiuse home station100. The above floor inlet 219 may be spaced from the bottom end 110(i.e., above a floor on which the bottom end 110 of the home station 100rests). In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 , the first appliance 114is the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 (which makes use of theshared air treatment member 172 and/or shared air movement member 174via the docking station 112, as described further elsewhere herein) andthe secondary vacuum unit 120 is the central vacuum unit 162 (FIG. 4also shows a unit associated with an optional third cleaning appliance,in this case the room air cleaner unit 160).

As exemplified, the central vacuum unit 162 includes a flexible hose 176and a rigid cleaning wand 178 joined to the shared air treatment member172 and/or shared air movement member 174 via the flexible hose 176. Theflexible hose 176 may be stored in a compartment in the multiuse homestation 100 and accordingly, the downstream end of the flexible hose 176may be connected to a portion of a fluid flow path in the multiuse homestation 100 even when the flexible hose 176 is not in use. The flexiblehose 176 may be connectable in air flow communication with the suctionmotor of the multiuse home station 100 by any means known in the vacuumcleaner arts. The rigid wand may be stored in or on the multiuse homestation 100. Accordingly, a user may raise the rigid cleaning wand to anabove floor surface, and operate the multiuse home station 100 to drawan air flow through the rigid cleaning wand 178 and flexible hose 176 toclean the above floor surface.

As exemplified in FIG. 5 , the above floor cleaning apparatus may be thehand vac unit 166. The hand vac unit may be a surface cleaning apparatushaving an on board air movement member 180 and air treatment member 182.The hand vac apparatus may be portable and cordless (i.e., having atleast one on board energy storage member(s)), and may be sized andshaped to be held comfortably in one hand of the user for above floorcleaning.

Optionally, the multiuse home station 100 may be configured for use withwet and/or dry surface cleaning appliances. For example, the multiusehome station 100 may include a docking station for a carpet extractorand may include a waterproof pocket or container to hold water drawn inby the carpet extractor.

Shared Air Moving Member and/or Air Treatment Member

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 includesat least one air moving member and/or air treatment member that isuseable by at least two appliances, incorporated as one or morecomponents in two different units and/or useable by an appliance andalso incorporated as one or more components in a unit. For example, atleast one of an air moving member and an air treatment member may befluidly coupled to one or more of a station associated with a firstappliance, a station associated with a second appliance, incorporated asone or more components in a first unit and incorporated as one or morecomponents in a second unit. This aspect may be used by itself or incombination with one or more of the other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that the multiuse home station 100 mayhave at least one fewer air moving member and/or air treatment memberthan would otherwise be needed. This may result in, e.g., reduced spacerequirements, reduced operating costs, or acquisition costs.

This is exemplified in FIG. 3 , in which the multiuse home station 100includes an air treatment and air movement unit 186, an autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus docking station port 188 and an air flowpassage network 190. Using the air flow passage network 190, the airtreatment and air movement unit 186 can be fluidically coupled to anautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 to remove dirt collected inthe autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 and store it in themultiuse home station 100. In addition, using the air flow passagenetwork 190, the air treatment and air movement unit 186 can be part ofa room air cleaner unit 160.

As exemplified, the air flow passage network 190 includes an air flowpassage 192 from the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus dockingstation 112 (specifically, from the docking station port 188) to a cleanair outlet 194. The air treatment and air movement unit 186 is providedin the air flow passage 192. The air flow passage 192 includes a firstupstream portion 196 extending between the docking station port 188 andthe air treatment and air movement unit 186. The air flow passage 192also includes a first downstream portion 198 extending between the airtreatment and air movement unit 186 and the clean air outlet port 194.

As exemplified, the air treatment and air movement unit 186 includes anair movement member 174 and an air treatment member 172. In theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the air movement member 174 includes asuction motor 200 and a fan 202 coupled to the suction motor 200 to berotationally driven by the suction motor 200. As exemplified, the airmovement member 174 is positioned upstream of the air treatment member172 and, accordingly, may use a dirt air motor (i.e. a motor which isdesigned to enable air with entrained dirt to flow therethrough). Inother embodiments, the air movement member 174 may be positioneddownstream from the air treatment member 172 and may therefore be aclean air motor. It will be appreciated that any apparatus which caninduce an air flow through the air flow passage network 190 may be used,such as a PL turbine.

The air treatment member 172 may be configured to remove particles(e.g., dust and/or water) from an air flow. The air treatment member 172of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 is a filter bag 206 (which in thiscase is also a collection bag 204). The filter bag 206 may be effectiveand easy to replace, however in other embodiments other air treatmentmembers may be used. For example, the air treatment member may be acyclone, which may have a dirt collection region interior of the cyclonechamber or exterior to the cyclone chamber, a momentum separator havinga dirt collection region, one or more filter media or the like. It willbe appreciated that any air treatment member 172 known in the robotdocking station arts or the air cleaner arts may be used.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the docking station 112 isconfigured to make use of the air treatment and air movement unit 186 toevacuate the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 when theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 is docked. For example, theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 may be docked when an outletport 208 of the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 is fluidicallycoupled to the docking port 188 (e.g., sealingly engaged such that airentrained with dirt may be drawn out of the apparatus 116) and/or whenthe autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 is held by the cradle 124.For example, when the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 hasreturned to the docking station 112, the cradle 124 may secure theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 in position in the dockingstation. The cradle 124 may secure the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus in a position in which the outlet port 208 abuts the dockingport 188. The docking station 112 may optionally subsequently open theoutlet port 208 (e.g. by way of a mechanical ram or using a suctionforce) and utilize the air treatment and air movement unit 186 to drawdirt out of the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116. The airtreatment and air movement member 186 may remove the dirt from the airflow drawn from the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus prior to theair flow being directed by the passage network 190 out through the cleanair outlet 194.

The room air cleaner unit 160 of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 alsoutilizes the air treatment and air movement unit 186. The room aircleaner unit 160 includes a room air inlet 210. The room air inlet 210opens into the room or space in which the multiuse home station 100 islocated. Accordingly, the room air cleaner unit 160 is able to draw inair from the room or space in which the multiuse house unit 100 islocated by utilizing the air treatment and air movement unit 186 fluidlycoupled to the room air inlet 210 to draw in air through the room airinlet 210. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the room air cleanerunit includes a second air flow passage 212 extending from the room airinlet 210 towards the air treatment and air movement unit 186. The roomair inlet 210 is thus fluidly coupled to the air treatment and airmovement unit 186 by way of the second air flow passage 212. In theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the second air flow passage 212 isjoined to the first upstream portion 196 of the air flow passage 192.Accordingly, the room air cleaner unit 160 may utilize the air treatmentand air movement unit 186 to draw air into the multiuse home station 100through the room air inlet 210, clean the air (e.g., by passing the airflow through the filter bag 206 to remove at least some debris), andthen expel the cleaned air through the clean air outlet 194 back intothe room or space in which the multiuse home station 100 is located.

Optionally, the room air cleaner unit 160 also includes one or moreadditional or alternative air treatment member (e.g., a HEPA filter,charcoal filter, and/or air ionizer), which is optionally not usable byany other appliance associated with the multiuse home station 100 (e.g.,located in the passage 212 at a location upstream of where the passage212 joins the air flow passage 192). Alternately, or in addition, afilter such as a HEPA filter, charcoal filter, and/or air ionizer may beprovided downstream of air treatment member (or as a downstream part ofair treatment member 172) so that air which is used to draw dirt out ofthe autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 is also filtered beforeexiting via clean air outlet 194.

The example of FIG. 3 shows the multiuse home station 100 configuredsuch that the room air cleaner unit 160 and the autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus 116 each make use of both the air treatment member172 and the air movement member 174. However, in some examples themultiuse home station 100 is configured such that the first appliance114 and the second appliance 120 use the same air movement member 174and different air treatment members, or use the same air treatmentmember 172 and different air movement members 174. For example, the roomair cleaner unit 160 may use the air treatment and air movement unit 186only to move air, and may use a separate air treatment member (e.g., aHEPA filter, charcoal filter, and/or air ionizer) to clean an air flow.Accordingly, the multiuse home station 100 may include a bypass air flowpassage extending between the air movement member 174 and the clean airoutlet 194 (downstream of the suction motor 200 and the fan 202 andupstream of the clean air outlet 194) such that air travelling throughthe room air cleaner unit does not pass through the air treatment member172.

Alternately or in addition, the multiuse home station 100 may include abypass air flow passage which bypasses the air movement member 174(e.g., if an on-board air movement member 119 of the autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus 116 is used to move dirt-entrained air out of theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 to evacuate the autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus 116). Accordingly, the bypass passage mayextend between the docking station port 188 and the air treatment member172 without passing through the air movement member 174. The bypasspassage may use part of the first upstream portion 196 and/or the firstdownstream portion 198.

As exemplified in FIG. 5 , the multiuse home station 100 may include theair treatment and air movement unit 186 configured to be made use of bytwo or more removable appliances. Each of the appliances may make use ofthe air treatment and air movement unit 186 when docked. For example,the multiuse home station 100 may be configured to evacuate a dirtreceiving region in each of the appliances. In the illustratedembodiment of FIG. 5 , the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116makes use of the air treatment and air movement unit 186 when docked atthe docking station 112 (i.e., the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus116 can be evacuated when docked at the docking port 188). The multiusehome station 100 embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 also includes a handvac docking station 216 for receiving the hand vac 166. The air passagenetwork 190 includes a second air flow passage 218 extending from a handvac inlet 220 of the hand vac docking station towards the air treatmentand air movement unit 186. An outlet port 221 of the hand vac 166 (whichmay also be the nozzle of the hand vac) may be joined to the hand vacinlet 220 (e.g., sealingly engaged such that dirt-entrained air may bedrawn out of the hand vac 166 to evacuate the hand vac 166).Accordingly, the hand vac 166 may also be evacuated by the multiuse homestation 100. In the illustrated example of FIG. 5 , the multiuse homestation 100 also includes a hand vac charging station 222 with acharging coupling 224 (integrated with the docking station 216 in theillustrated example).

In some examples, the shared air treatment member 172 and/or shared airmovement member 174 may be on-board at least one appliance that isremovably mountable to the multiuse home station 100. As exemplified inFIG. 6 , a second appliance 120 is fluidly coupled to the multiuse homestation 100 (i.e., to the air flow passage network 190). For example,the second appliance 120 may be a vacuum cleaner that comprises the airtreatment member 172 and the air moving member 174. For example, thesecond appliance 120 may include all of the components of a vacuumcleaner and therefore may function as a vacuum cleaner when removed fromthe multiuse home station 100. Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner may be acanister vacuum cleaner, an upright vacuum cleaner, a stick vacuumcleaner 168 (see FIG. 6 ), a hand vac 166 (see FIG. 5 ) or the like.Alternately, instead of the components comprising a second appliance120, the components may comprise only some of the components of a vacuumcleaner and may therefore be a vacuum cleaner unit that comprises one ormore of the air treatment member 172, the air moving member 174 and thehose 178. The vacuum cleaner unit may be removably mounted into ahousing and, when combined with the housing, provides a vacuum cleaneror extractor.

The vacuum cleaner or vacuum cleaner unit may be removably mounted tothe multiuse home station 100 so as to be fluidically connected to themultiuse home station 100. As exemplified in FIG. 6 , the secondappliance 120 is docked in a pass-through docking station 228 of themultiuse home station 100. The air flow passage network 190 includes anupstream air outlet 230 and a downstream air inlet 232 so that the airflow passage network 190 may extend through the second appliance 120when the second appliance is docked in the pass-through docking station228. The second appliance includes an upstream air inlet 234 configuredto engage (e.g., sealingly engage) with the upstream air outlet 230 ofthe air flow passage network 190. The second appliance 120 also includesa downstream air outlet 236 configured to engage (e.g., sealinglyengage) with the downstream air inlet 232. Accordingly, the on board airflow passage extending from the upstream air inlet 234 to the downstreamair outlet 236 is in fluid communication with the air flow passage 192when the second appliance 120 is docked in the pass-through dockingstation 228 and may therefore be part of the air flow passage network190.

As exemplified in FIG. 6 , the multiuse home station 100 is configuredsuch that another appliance may make use of one or both of on-board airtreatment member 172 and/or air movement member 172 of the secondappliance 120. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 , the autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus 116 and the room air cleaner unit 160 areeach able to make use of both the on-board air treatment member 172 andthe air movement member 174 of the second appliance 120. Accordingly,the on-board members 172, 174 of, e.g., the stick vacuum 168 may be usedto evacuate the autonomous apparatus 116 and/or move air through theroom air cleaner 160.

The room air inlet 210 and the autonomous surface cleaning apparatusdocking port 188 are each upstream of the upstream air outlet 230 andjoined to the upstream air outlet 230 through the air passage network190. Accordingly, when the air movement member 174 of the secondappliance 120 of the embodiment of FIG. 6 draws air from the upstreamair outlet 230, the air may be drawn into the air passage network 190through one or both of the room air inlet 210 and the autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus docking port 188. The air treatment member 172 of thesecond appliance 120 is configured to separate dirt from the air flowgenerated by the air movement member 174 of the second appliance 120(e.g., the air treatment member 172 may be, as illustrated in FIG. 6 , acyclone to remove particulate matter from the air flow).

It will be appreciated that suitable valves may be provided to enableair to flow through only part of the air flow passage network 190 whendifferent appliances or different units are operated.

Shared Dirt Receiving Region

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 includes ashared dirt receiving region 240 (see for example FIG. 4 ). As discussedpreviously with respect to the air movement member 174 and the airtreatment member 172, the shared dirt receiving region 240 may beuseable by at least two appliances, incorporated as a component in twodifferent units and/or useable by an appliance and also incorporated asa component in a unit. This aspect may be used by itself or incombination with one or more of the other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that a user may be able to dispose ofdirt from more than one appliance by emptying or removing only the oneshared dirt receiving region 240.

In some examples, dirt removed by at least one appliance is collecteddirectly in the dirt receiving region 240, which may be the collectionbag 204. For example, dirt collected by the room air cleaner unit 160may be collected in the collection bag 204, and dirt evacuated from theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 may also be moved into thecollection bag 204.

In some examples, the first appliance 114 and the second appliance 120each collect dirt in their own collection regions, and then the multiusehome station 100 is configured to gather dirt from the first appliance114 and the second appliance 120 into one common dirt receiving region240. For example, the dirt collected by the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus 116 and the dirt collected by the hand vac 166 (FIG. 5 ) maybe drawn into the dirt receiving region 240 of the multiuse home station100 when the two appliances are docked.

The shared dirt receiving region 240 in the multiuse home station 100may also be easier to access for a user than a dirt receiving region inan appliance. Since the size of the multiuse home station 100 may beless important than the size of the appliances, the multiuse homestation 100 may also be able to incorporate one or more additionalfeatures to make the shared dirt receiving region 240 easier to use. Forexample, the shared dirt receiving region 240 may be positioned to bereadily accessible from an upper end 108 of the station 100, e.g., byopening a lid 242 and removing the dirt receiving region 240 or bymerely pulling the dirt receiving region 240 upwardly using an optionalhandle. The station 100 may also or alternately be configured to gatherdirt into a single, removable container or bag and optionally seal thesingle container or bag to avoid contact between the dirt and the user,as described further elsewhere herein.

As in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 , the multiuse home station 100may gather the dirt into the filter bag 206 or another collection bag204 or container, and the user can then remove the filter bag 206 anddispose of that. A bag may be easier to dispose of than loose dirt thatthe user needs to empty into a garbage.

Optionally, the multiuse home station 100 may be configured such thatthe shared dirt receiving region 240 is also useable as a room garbagecan 244. For example, when the openable lid 242 is opened, the dirtreceiving region 240 may be opened. The dirt receiving region 240 may besized for use with a household garbage bag (e.g., a bag having a volumeof at least 40 liters, at least 50 liters, or at least 60 liters).

The collection bag 204 may be a sealable bag (e.g., a wax paper bag orother non-porous bag). The sealable bag may keep dirt from escaping fromthe bag as the user disposes of the bag. In some examples, the multiusehome station 100 is configured to seal the sealable collection bag 204before the user touches the bag. For example, the multiuse home station100 may be configured to close and seal the bag in response to anindication from the user that they are ready to remove the bag 204 fromthe multiuse home station 100. The user may then open the lid 242 andretrieve the bag 204 without ever having to touch the collection bag 204while the collection bag 204 is open.

Optionally, the collection bag 204 used by the multiuse home station 100(e.g., the sealable bag) is biodegradable.

It will be appreciated that the dirt receiving region 240 may be anydirt collection region known in the vacuum cleaner or room air cleanerarts. Accordingly, it may be a rigid container that is or comprises amomentum separator, a cyclone separator, or the like.

Disinfection

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 mayinclude a disinfection unit. The disinfection unit may be configured togenerate and/or use a disinfectant agent (e.g., one or more of analcohol solution, ozone (e.g., aqueous ozone), ultraviolet radiation,peroxide, vital oxide, quaternary ammonium, or ions from an airionizer). This aspect may be used by itself or in combination with oneor more of the other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that the multiuse home station 100 may beable to disinfect a surface (e.g., a surface of an appliance or asurface in a room such as a floor or wall) and/or provide thedisinfectant agent to an appliance. For example, the multiuse homestation 100 may be operable to disinfect the handle of the hand vac 166(FIG. 5 ) when the hand vac 166 is docked in the docking station 216, orprovide aqueous ozone to a steam mop.

The disinfection unit may be or include, e.g., a sprayer operable tospray a fluid such as an alcohol solution or aqueous ozone and/or asurface contact member operable to apply a fluid such as an alcoholsolution or aqueous ozone (e.g., an absorptive member such as a mop orpad to be soaked in the fluid and applied to the surface, or anextending member along which a fluid can flow to be guided to asurface). Additionally, or alternatively, the disinfection unit may beor include an ozone generator, a mixing unit operable to mix chemicalsto produce a disinfection agent, a lamp operable to generate ultravioletradiation and apply the ultraviolet radiation to adjacent surfaces, oran air ionizer operable to ionize adjacent air.

The multiuse home station 100 may include at least one sealed pocket orwet bin to hold a fluid disinfectant to allow an appliance or a portionof an appliance to be submerged for disinfection. For example, themultiuse home station 100 may include a sealed pocket in which the stickvacuum can be placed to disinfect and/or deodorize the stick vacuum.

Alternately or in addition the disinfection unit may be operable todisinfect air that travels through part or all of the air flow passagenetwork 190. Accordingly, if the multiuse home station 100 incorporatesa room air cleaner unit, the disinfection unit may be used to treat(e.g., sterilize or purify) air that is drawn in from the room andtreated by the room air cleaner unit before being returned to the room.

The disinfectant agent may be applied during a low-traffic time period.The low-traffic time period is a time period when the space in which thedisinfectant agent is to be applied can be expected to be unoccupied,occupied by fewer individual than during other times, and/or occupied byindividuals who are moving less than during other times. The low-traffictime period may be a preprogrammed time period and/or a learned timeperiod (e.g., a time period determined via machine learning fed by datasuch as sensor data provided by motion sensors or other sensors of themultiuse home station 100). For example, the low-traffic time mayinclude a work day time period (e.g., between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm orbetween 9:00 am and 5:00 pm) for a residential space when residents canbe expected to be away at work. The low-traffic time period may includean overnight time period (e.g., between 11:00 pm and 7:00 am) for aresidential space when residents can be expected to stay in bed. Inanother example, the low-traffic time may include an evening and/ormorning time period (e.g., between 7:00 pm and 10:00 am) for, e.g., acommercial space, when occupants can be expected to have left for theday.

Applying the disinfectant agent during the low-traffic time period mayreduce contact between individuals and the disinfectant agent. Forexample, liquid disinfectant applied to a surface by an autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus may have time to dry before a human comesinto contact with the surface. Alternatively, or additionally, applyingthe disinfectant agent during the low-traffic time period may reduce theneed for application of the disinfectant agent to be paused toaccommodate individuals. For example, application during low-traffictime periods may reduce automatic instances of ultraviolet radiationbeing shut off in response to detecting a human in the vicinity of theapplication site.

Incorporating a Detachable Appliance

In accordance with this aspect, a detachable appliance (e.g., theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116) may form a part of themultiuse home station 100. This aspect may be used by itself or incombination with one or more of the other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that the multiuse home station 100 mayuse the detachable appliance to operate remotely. For example, themultiuse home station 100 may use the detachable appliance to generateand/or use the disinfectant agent.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 , the detachable appliance 250 isthe autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116. The autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus 116 includes the disinfection unit 252. For example,the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 may include a sprayeroperable to spray a fluid (e.g., an alcohol solution or aqueous ozone,which may be held in a reservoir on board) on a surface adjacent theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116. In another example, theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 may include a reservoir ofcleaning fluid and a surface contact member operable to direct thecleaning fluid from the reservoir and onto a surface adjacent theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 (e.g., a brush having bristlesalong which the fluid can flow and which can be applied to the surface,or a mop or pad to be soaked in the fluid and applied to the surface).

Additionally, or alternatively, the disinfection unit 252 may be orinclude a lamp operable to generate ultraviolet radiation and optionallydirect the ultraviolet radiation off board of the detachable appliance,or an air ionizer operable to ionize air adjacent the detachableappliance.

Recirculating Air

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 may beconfigured to selectively draw air from an upper end 270 of a room 272or from a lower end 274 of the room and/or exhaust air to the upper end270 of the room or to the lower end 274 of the room. This aspect may beused by itself or in combination with one or more of the other aspectsset out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that the multiuse home station 100 maydraw air from the upper portion of the room when the room temperature isgenerally cooler than desired (e.g., in winter) and from the lowerportion of the room when the room temperature is generally higher thandesired (e.g., in summer).

As exemplified in FIGS. 7 to 9 , the multiuse home station 100 mayinclude an upper port 276 between the air flow passage network 190 andthe room and a lower port 278 between the air flow passage network 190and the room. As exemplified, the multiuse home station 100 isvertically elongated, and the upper port 276 is at the top end 108 inthe upper portion 270 of the room while the lower port 278 is at thebottom end 110 in the lower portion 274 of the room. The upper and lowerports each open into the air flow passage network 190 and may be fluidlycoupled to the air movement member 174 or, optionally, an alternate airmovement member that is not used to treat air drawn from a surfacecleaning apparatus. For example, if the air movement member of a surfacecleaning apparatus is used to transport dirt from the surface cleaningapparatus to the multiuse home station 100, then in such a case themultiuse home station 100 may have an air movement member 174 that isused to recirculate air, but not to draw dirt out of a docked surfacecleaning apparatus.

One of the upper and lower ports may be the room air intake of the roomair cleaner unit, while the other is the clean air outlet. Accordingly,the multiuse home station 100 may be operable to, in a first mode, drawair in through the upper port 276 and exhaust air out through the lowerport 278 (e.g., to treat the air using the room air cleaning unit 160;i.e., the upper port 276 is the room air inlet 210 and the lower port278 is the clean air outlet 194). Alternatively, the multiuse homestation 100 may be operable to, in a second mode, draw air in throughthe lower port 278 and exhaust air out through the upper port 276 (e.g.,to treat the air using the room air cleaning unit 160; i.e., the upperport 276 is the clean air outlet 194 and the lower port 278 is the roomair inlet 210). The multiuse home station 100 may be operable to switchbetween modes (e.g., at different times of the year).

Optionally, the air may be treated as it passes between the upper andlower ports 276, 278. For example, the air may pass through the airtreatment member 174 (or an alternate air treatment member that is notused to treat air drawn from a surface cleaning apparatus) as the airpasses between the upper and lower ports 276, 278.

Alternately, or in addition, the multiuse home station 100 may beoperable to heat or cool the air that it draws in. For example, themultiuse home station 100 may pass the air over a heater or a heatexchanger before exhausting the air, and the heat sink may be warmed toabove the temperature of the space in which the multiuse home station100 is located or cooled to below the temperature of the space in whichthe multiuse home station 100 is located.

A vertically elongated multiuse home station 100 may have space betweenthe upper port 276 and the lower port 278 for one or more furtherstations or units. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates the multiuse homestation 100 incorporating a speaker unit 280, a light fixture 282, adocking and charging station 284 for a stick vacuum, a retractable foldout induction charger table 286 (e.g., for charging a phone; optionallyfolded out so the phone is visible when charging), and the room garbagecan 244.

FIG. 8 illustrates the multiuse home station 100 incorporating the lightfixture 282, the disinfection unit 252 (in this case, to make H₂O+O³solution for disinfection), the central vacuum unit with the extendablehose 176, the room garbage can 244, and the docking station 112 for theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the multiuse home station 100 incorporating amount for a television screen 288 at the top end 108 and the dockingstation 112 for the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus 116 at thebottom end. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the upperport is in the top end 108 adjacent the screen and the lower port is inthe bottom end 110 adjacent the docking station 112, with the flexiblehose 176 providing an air passage therebetween. A sweeping unit 290 isprovided at the bottom end 110 and joined to the air treatment and airmovement unit so that a user may sweep dirt into or near the sweepingmodule inlet 292 to be sucked into the multiuse home station 100 and outthrough the clean air outlet 194.

It will be appreciated that a multiuse home station 100 may incorporateany one or more of the components exemplified in FIGS. 7, 8 9A and 9B orany other component, such as a Wi-Fi repeater as discussed elsewhereherein.

Integrated into a Living Space

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 isintegrated into a living space. The multiuse home station 100 may beshaped to fit underneath common furniture items (e.g., in a locationthat is at least partially out of sight while still providing directaccess from the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station tothe floor). The multiuse home station 100 may be incorporate into commonfurniture items (e.g., the multiuse home station 100 may form abookshelf or a stand for a television screen, such as the televisionscreen of FIGS. 9A and 9B). This aspect may be used by itself or incombination with one or more of the other aspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that the multiuse home station 100 may bepositioned in a convenient location (e.g., a location readily accessedby the user and/or in a position where an autonomous appliance is ableto directly access the necessary surfaces) without appearing out ofplace or taking up additional space. For example, placing the multiusehome station 100 under furniture may hide the multiuse home station 100and/or allow for positioning of the multiuse home station on a floorwithout increasing the total footprint of the furniture in the room.

As exemplified in FIG. 10 , the multiuse home station 100 may be shapedto be positioned under a counter 294. The multiuse home station 100 mayshaped to fit behind a kick plate 296 or may replace the kick plate(e.g., it may include the kick plate 296 as part of the multiuse homestation 100).

As exemplified in FIG. 11 , the multiuse home station 100 may be shapedto be positioned under a sofa 298 and/or side table 300.

It will be appreciated that part of the multiuse home station 100 mayextend upwardly from the floor and be positioned behind the furniture sothat the total height of the multiuse home station 100 may be enlargedwithout the portions of the multiuse home station 100 behind thefurniture being visible.

Modular

In accordance with this aspect, the multiuse home station 100 is amodular station. The multiuse home station 100 is configured to allowone or more (e.g., a plurality) of units or stations to be removed andreplaced over the lifetime of the multiuse home station 100. This aspectmay be used by itself or in combination with one or more of the otheraspects set out herein.

An advantage of this aspect is that the multiuse home station 100 may becontinuously used even as one or more units or stations break down orbecome outdated. Since the multiuse home station 100 incorporates aplurality of units or stations, replacing the entire multiuse homestation 100 every time a component unit or station breaks could becost-prohibitive.

As exemplified in FIG. 6 , the multiuse home station 100 may include theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station 112, the on-boardenergy storage device 138, and the docking station 228 for the stickvacuum 168. Each of these stations or units may be removable (e.g., heldon by threaded fasteners, clips, or other releasable fasteners).Accordingly, if one breaks, the user may be able to remove the brokenstation or unit and replace it with another. The main housing 102 of themultiuse home station 100 may be durable and tough (e.g., formed of ametal such as steel, or a tough plastic). The air flow passage network190 may also or alternatively be formed of a durable and tough material(e.g., a metal such as steel, or a touch plastic). One or more unit orstation may be releasably securable in the main housing 102 with one ormore ports (e.g., docking station port 188) opening into to the air flowpassage network 190.

In some examples, components of a station or unit may be replaceable.For example, a motor, light, Wi-Fi repeater, or power supply may bereleasably secured to the main housing 102 and/or air flow passagenetwork 190 and may thus be removable and replaceable.

The multiuse home station 100 may include a backplane to enabledifferent features to be incorporated and/or upgraded. For example, themultiuse home station 100 may start with two basic stations or units,and the user may be able to add on further stations or units or upgradeone or more stations or units as desired.

While the above description describes features of example embodiments,it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of thedescribed embodiments are susceptible to modification without departingfrom the spirit and principles of operation of the describedembodiments. For example, the various characteristics which aredescribed by means of the represented embodiments or examples may beselectively combined with each other. Accordingly, what has beendescribed above is intended to be illustrative of the claimed conceptand non-limiting. It will be understood by persons skilled in the artthat other variants and modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto. Thescope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodimentsand examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistentwith the description as a whole.

1. A multiuse home station comprising: (a) an autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus docking station, the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus docking station comprises an air flow passage from anautonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station port to a cleanair outlet with an air treatment and air movement unit provided in theair flow passage, the air treatment and air movement unit comprises asuction motor and fan assembly and an air treatment member; (b) anautonomous surface cleaning apparatus charging station; and, (c) a roomair cleaner unit, wherein the room air unit uses a portion of theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station.
 2. The multiusehome station of claim 1 wherein the air flow passage comprises a firstupstream portion extending between the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus docking station port and the air treatment and air movementunit and a downstream portion extending between the air treatment andair movement unit and the clean air outlet port, wherein the room aircleaner unit utilizes the air treatment and air movement unit.
 3. Themultiuse home station of claim 2 wherein the room air cleaner unitcomprises a second air flow passage extending from a room air inlettowards the air treatment and air movement unit.
 4. The multiuse homestation of claim 2 wherein the air treatment member comprises a dirtreceiving region and the multiuse home station further comprises anopenable lid wherein, when the lid is opened, the dirt receiving regionis opened whereby the dirt receiving region is useable as a room garbagecan.
 5. The multiuse home station of claim 1 further comprising a handvac unit that comprises a hand vac docking station.
 6. The multiuse homestation of claim 5 wherein the hand vac docking station comprises asecond air flow passage extending from a hand vac inlet and extendingtowards the air treatment and air movement unit whereby the hand vacunit utilizes the air treatment and air movement unit.
 7. The multiusehome station of claim 5 wherein the hand vac docking station comprises ahand vac charging station.
 8. The multiuse home station of claim 1further comprising an above floor cleaning unit that comprises a rigidcleaning wand and a flexible hose wherein an air flow passage comprisesa first upstream portion extending between the autonomous surfacecleaning apparatus docking station port and an air treatment and airmovement unit and a downstream portion extending between the airtreatment and air movement unit and a clean air outlet port, and asecond air flow passage extending from an above floor inlet towards theair treatment and air movement unit wherein the above floor cleaningunit utilizes the air treatment and air movement unit.
 9. The multiusehome station of claim 1 further comprising a secondary charging station.10. The multiuse home station of claim 9 wherein the secondary chargingstation comprises a recharging station for at least one of a smartphone, a tablet, a flashlight, and a hand vacuum cleaner.
 11. Themultiuse home station of claim 9 wherein the secondary charging stationcomprises a USB port.
 12. The multiuse home station of claim 9 whereinthe secondary charging station comprises a wireless charging pad. 13.The multiuse home station of claim 1 further comprising a Wi-Firepeater.
 14. The multiuse home station of claim 1 further comprising aroom light.
 15. The multiuse home station of claim 1 further comprisinga power output unit comprising a surge protected electrical outlet. 16.The multiuse home station of claim 1 further comprising an autonomoussurface cleaning apparatus wherein the autonomous surface cleaningapparatus comprises a disinfection unit or an air cleaner unit.
 17. Themultiuse home station of claim 1 further comprising an a secondaryvacuum unit operable independently of an autonomous surface cleaningapparatus, wherein the secondary vacuum unit uses a portion of theautonomous surface cleaning apparatus docking station.
 18. The multiusehome station of claim 17 wherein the secondary vacuum unit comprises acordless portable vacuum cleaner.
 19. The multiuse home station of claim17 wherein the air flow passage comprises a first upstream portionextending between the autonomous surface cleaning apparatus dockingstation port and the air treatment and air movement unit and adownstream portion extending between the air treatment and air movementunit and the clean air outlet port, wherein the secondary vacuum unitcomprises a flexible hose and wand assembly upstream of the airtreatment and air movement unit.